Custom rods ?

[Pete_G]

Biggest plus I can think of with a factory rod is the warranty. With a custom, the labor involved in building it typically is not warrantied, so you're going to have to pay for it again in the event you break it and want another one. The blank, depending on the company, is often warrantied though. Something that has become a big issue these days is shipping 1 piece surf sticks. Whether it's a custom or a factory it's VERY expensive to the point where even bothering with a warranty isn't worth it if the rod much more then 8 ft long.

Biggest plus of a custom is exactly that. It's custom. Your choice of grip and butt length among other things. You can cut the butt of a factory rod, but definitely investigate if it voids the warranty. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won't. I'm very picky about butt length on rods 8 feet and longer, so all of mine in that size range are custom. All rods under are factory as I'm not as picky there.

[Stewie]

The only way you can have a honey Lami is to have it built. That settles it for me

[gone fishin]

Choice of guides & placement, size and your own dimensions. Also determined by pocketbook!! I have a couple of customs and plenty of stock rods. They seem to have babies when my wife is not looking

[MAC]

Originally Posted by gonefishintalk

Choice of guides & placement, size and your own dimensions. Also determined by pocketbook!! I have a couple of customs and plenty of stock rods. They seem to have babies when my wife is not looking

LOL my fishing rods do the same thing. Except now the wife just looks at the rafters and counts hooks. For a while I could just sneak another pair of hooks in and add the rod. She got wise to that real quick.

To me it is all about personal preference. I have a few factory rods and 6 or 8 customs. aFor a while I wanted the nice wraps, double cork tape, fancy guides,etc. Now I just go for black on black. Hopefully not as noticeable to thieves.

[Karl F]

I just like the feel of them...
(course, I said that to a girl in the backseat of my car 30 odd years ago too).. ...
but, there is somethng just plain unique about a custom rod, and yes, one is never enough.

[GBOUTDOORS]

When I bought the new boat 5 years ago I had CMS make me up 4 boat rods, two fluke rods, an eel rod and a spinning rod all to match. I have had one rod snap at the tip most likely my falt but they replaced it NO charge and said they would do it for all the rods for LIFE I do not know of a factory rod that will do that. Even the ugly sticks say they will but try it after a few years its a no go. Plus you get what you want in colors and set up.

[spence]

I believe CMS's policy was 2 years full replacement, but they may have knocked it down to just one.

It's certainly isn't for life, although they do take care of their customers.

-spence